Buyer Database · Buyer / Distributor · Updated

Paramount Pictures

Paramount Pictures, under David Ellison's new ownership, is aggressively rebuilding its theatrical slate with franchise extensions, high-profile talent deals, and a target of 30 films annually in partnership with Warner Bros.

Current mandate

Paramount is operating in an active slate-expansion mode under David Ellison's ownership, pursuing theatrical event films across all major genres while locking in talent through exclusive multi-year overall deals. The studio's 2026 strategy centers on a 30-film annual slate target, developed in partnership with Warner Bros., with a clear emphasis on prestige titles capable of opening wide theatrically. Recent acquisitions span horror thrillers (the pre-emptive buy of "Familiar" by Julien Magnat), franchise IP (the live-action "Call of Duty" feature adaptation), and sequel greenlight activity ("Heart Eyes 2," set for a Feb. 11, 2028 release through Paramount via Spyglass). The first-look producing deal with Jon M. Chu, signed in early 2026, signals continued pursuit of commercially proven directors for event-scale projects.

Over the past 12 months, Paramount has logged 281 total tracked records and maintained deal activity across horror, franchise action, comedy, and romance genres. The studio's acquisition pattern favors IP with built-in audience awareness, sequel potential, or prestige-adjacent positioning. Pre-emptive script purchases (as with "Familiar") indicate willingness to move quickly on compelling original material when the genre fit is strong. The Jon M. Chu overall deal and the "Call of Duty" adaptation reflect a parallel track: locking up both talent and proven IP simultaneously.

Access to Paramount runs primarily through established representation. The studio tracks 243 decision makers internally, and recent executive restructuring has concentrated strategic planning and labor relations under Brian Robbins directly, following the departure of Andrew Gumpert. Courtney Armstrong now oversees Strategic Planning and Labor Relations, while Randall Baumberger handles Studio Operations, both reporting to Robbins. Writers and producers without existing relationships should approach through WGA-signatory agencies or entertainment law firms with active Paramount relationships; the pre-emptive buy of "Familiar" demonstrates the studio will act fast on agented submissions in priority genres.

Signature peaks

  • 243 Active Decision Makers Tracked — Internal contacts monitored across the studio
  • 281 12-Month Activity Records — Total tracked signals over the past year
  • $28M "80 for Brady" Production Finance — Paramount financed the film acquired from Fifth Season

Mandate dimensions

Genre focus
drama, action, thriller, sci-fi, horror, franchise
Territory focus
Not disclosed
Budget tier (observed)
Not disclosed
Access pattern
Agented submissions through WGA-signatory literary representatives or entertainment attorneys. No unsolicited material accepted. Producers with existing studio relationships or overall deals (such as the Jon M. Chu first-look arrangement) provide an additional internal pathway for writers.
Deal structure
Paramount pursues pre-emptive script acquisitions, IP adaptations, franchise extensions, sequel greenlights, and multi-year exclusive overall deals with directors and producers. Production financing is handled in-house for select projects (as with the reported $28M for "80 for Brady") and in partnership with third-party financiers or co-producers (as with Spyglass on "Heart Eyes 2"). Budget disclosures are rare; deal terms are typically not made public.

Recent acquisitions

  • 80 for Brady

    February 2023 (reported) · Acquired
    Paramount acquired the movie from Fifth Season, and financed it for $28M.

  • Call of Duty (live-action feature film adaptation)

    2025-10-30T00:00:00.000Z · Acquired

  • Familiar

    2024-07-18T00:00:00.000Z · Acquired
    Paramount Pictures has pre-emptively bought the original horror thriller script Familiar by Julien Magnat.

  • First-look producing deal with Jon M. Chu

    2026-01-02T00:00:00.000Z · Acquired

  • Heart Eyes 2

    2026-04-22T00:00:00.000Z · greenlit
    Spyglass' Heart Eyes 2 is getting a release of Feb. 11, 2028 through Paramount

  • Here Be Monsters

    2025-09-19T00:00:00.000Z · Acquired

  • Regretting You

    2024-09-13T00:00:00.000Z · Acquired

  • Scary Movie 6

    2025-11-12T00:00:00.000Z · Acquired

Market context

"2022 was the first year in nearly a decade where Paramount crossed $1 Billion at the domestic box office and ranked as a top three Studio."

Paramount is operating in an active slate-expansion mode under David Ellison's ownership, pursuing theatrical event films across all major genres while locking in talent through exclusive multi-year overall deals. The studio's 2026 strategy centers on a 30-film annual slate target, developed in partnership with Warner Bros., with a clear emphasis on prestige titles capable of opening wide theatrically. Recent acquisitions span horror thrillers (the pre-emptive buy of "Familiar" by Julien Magnat), franchise IP (the live-action "Call of Duty" feature adaptation), and sequel greenlight activity ("Heart Eyes 2," set for a Feb. 11, 2028 release through Paramount via Spyglass). The first-look producing deal with Jon M. Chu, signed in early 2026, signals continued pursuit of commercially proven directors for event-scale projects.

Common questions about Paramount Pictures

Does Paramount Pictures accept unsolicited scripts?

Paramount does not accept unsolicited scripts as a matter of standard major-studio policy. All submissions must arrive through WGA-signatory literary agents, entertainment attorneys, or established producers with an existing relationship at the studio. The pre-emptive acquisition of the original horror thriller script "Familiar" by Julien Magnat illustrates that agented spec material in priority genres can move quickly, but the representation layer is non-negotiable for access.

What budgets does Paramount typically work with?

Paramount operates across a wide budget range as a major studio. The acquisition of "80 for Brady" came with a reported $28M production finance commitment. The greenlit "Heart Eyes 2" carries a budget noted as under $25M (the original was reported at $18M net). Franchise and event films such as the live-action "Call of Duty" adaptation would command significantly larger budgets, though specific figures have not been disclosed publicly.

Does Paramount acquire films at festivals?

Paramount's primary acquisition activity is not concentrated at festivals in the traditional specialty-distributor sense. The studio pursues pre-emptive script buys, IP adaptations, and talent overall deals as its dominant deal types. That said, the studio's broad genre mandate and active deal velocity mean festival titles with strong commercial positioning are not excluded; submissions through representation remain the standard pathway regardless of origin.

How do I reach Paramount Pictures as a writer or producer?

The most direct route is through a WGA-signatory literary agent or entertainment attorney with an active Paramount relationship. The studio's strategic planning and labor relations functions now report directly to President Brian Robbins following the departure of Andrew Gumpert, with Courtney Armstrong overseeing those areas. Randall Baumberger handles Studio Operations. Producers with first-look or overall deals at the studio (such as Jon M. Chu, per a 2026 deal) represent another access point for writers seeking a champion inside the building.

What genres is Paramount focused on right now?

Paramount's current acquisition record spans horror thrillers ("Familiar," pre-emptively acquired), horror romance ("Heart Eyes 2," greenlit for 2028), franchise action ("Call of Duty" live-action adaptation), comedy ("Scary Movie 6"), and romance ("Regretting You"). The studio's stated mandate under David Ellison prioritizes prestige event films capable of wide theatrical openings, with franchise IP and sequel-ready properties appearing consistently across recent deal activity.

Is Paramount currently active in the acquisitions market?

Yes. Paramount logged 281 tracked records over the past 12 months and recorded one unique deal in the most recent 90-day window, with a deal velocity of 10 in the past 30 days as of mid-June 2026. The studio signed a first-look producing deal with Jon M. Chu in early 2026 and greenlit "Heart Eyes 2" in April 2026. The 30-film annual slate target pursued in partnership with Warner Bros. signals sustained acquisition and production activity through the near term.

Adjacent buyers in this lane

  • Focus Features — Focus Features is doubling down on experiential brand-building and festival acquisitions to court th
  • Roadside Attractions — Roadside Attractions is a North American boutique distributor actively acquiring festival-originated
  • Fox Entertainment — Fox Entertainment is running a deliberate, low-volume acquisition strategy built around creator-led,
  • 20th Television — 20th Television is actively building its overall-deal roster and deepening its animation pipeline, w

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